Isolated Gas Cooling System for Cooling Electrical Components of an Electronic Display

Abstract

A preferred embodiment relates to a cooling system and a method for cooling an electronic display and its electronic components. An exemplary embodiment includes a transparent gas cooling chamber. The electronic components which operate the system are preferably housed both within the electronic display housing and within the cooling chamber. The cooling system defines a gas compartment that is anterior and posterior to the electronic display surface. Fans may be used to propel the isolated gas through the cooling system. The circulating gas removes heat directly from the electronic display surface as well as the electronic components which operate the display. The isolated gas is transparent or at least semi-transparent. The image quality of an exemplary embodiment remains essentially unchanged, even though the gas is flowing through a narrow channel over the visible face of the electronic display surface.

1 . A gas cooling system for an electronic display having a display surface, the system comprising:
 a first gas chamber positioned anterior to the electronic display surface;   a second gas chamber in gaseous communication with said first gas chamber and adapted to cool gas;   a cooling chamber fan within said second gas chamber to propel gas around the first and second gas chambers;   one or more electronic components within said second gas chamber and positioned so that propelled gas contacts one or more surfaces of the components; and   means for cooling the gas contained within the second gas chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first gas chamber comprises a transparent anterior plate; and   the second gas chamber comprises a cooling plenum.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first gas chamber further comprises the electronic display surface;
 spacers separating the electronic display surface and said transparent anterior plate; and   an entrance opening and an exit opening.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 said one or more electronic components are mounted on the surfaces of said second chamber   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 said one or more electronic components are mounted on posts which suspend said one or more components from the surfaces of said second chamber.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more electronic components comprise any one of the following: transformers, circuit boards, resistors, capacitors, batteries, power transformers, motors, illumination devices, wiring and wiring harnesses, and switches. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fan runs continuously when the electronic display is operating.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensing device within said first or second gas chamber;   a switch in communication with said temperature sensing device and said fan; and   wherein the fan is switched on when the temperature reaches a threshold value.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 surface features within said plenum to facilitate the transfer of heat away from the gas.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising
 one or more thermoelectric modules within said plenum.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a filter within the second gas chamber.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the means for cooling the gas contained within the second gas chamber comprises a fan adapted to force air over the external surfaces of the plenum.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the cooling plenum is adapted to transfer heat from said electronic components to the isolated gas. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 an air curtain device to direct air across the external surface of the first gas chamber.   
   
   
       15 . A thermally regulated electronic display comprising:
 an electronic display having a display surface;   a first gas chamber positioned anterior to the display surface of the electronic display and adapted to transfer heat from the display surface to a gas;   a second gas chamber in gaseous communication with said first gas chamber, said second gas chamber comprising
 a cooling plenum; 
 a cooling chamber fan within said cooling plenum to propel gas around the first and second gas chambers; and 
 one or more electronic components within said cooling plenum, said components being operatively connected to said electronic display and positioned so that propelled gas contacts one or more surfaces of the components; and 
   means for cooling the gas contained within the cooling plenum.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more electronic components comprise any one of the following: transformers, circuit boards, resistors, capacitors, batteries, power transformers, motors, illumination devices, wiring and wiring harnesses, and switches. 
   
   
       17 . The display from  claim 15  further wherein the means for cooling the gas contained within the cooling plenum comprises any one of the following:
 a fan adapted to force air over the external surfaces of the plenum;   surface features on said cooling plenum;   one or more thermoelectric modules on said cooling plenum; and   an air conditioning device operatively connected to said second chamber.   
   
   
       18 . A method for cooling an electronic display having a display surface with isolated gas, comprising the steps of:
 providing an isolated gas system comprising a first gas chamber which is in contact with the electronic display surface and a second gas chamber comprising a cooling plenum, electronic components, and a fan, wherein the first and second gas chambers are in gaseous communication;   forcing isolated gas into the first gas chamber;   transferring heat from the electronic display surface to the isolated gas;   directing the isolated gas into the cooling plenum;   transferring heat from the electronic components to the isolated gas;   cooling the isolated gas in the plenum; and   reintroducing the cooled isolated gas into the first gas chamber.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cooling step comprises the steps of:
 transferring heat from the isolated gas to the walls of the cooling plenum;   forcing air over the external surfaces of the plenum; and   transferring heat from the walls of the cooling plenum to the air.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of transferring heat from the electronic components to the isolated gas is performed by forcing the isolated gas over one or more surfaces of the electronic components.